Drying-machine.



J. C. TALIAFERRO.

DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0012.19, 1907.

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WITNESSES:

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J. G. TALI'AFERRO.

DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0012.19, 1907.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

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* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. TALIAFERRO, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CONTINENTAL CAN COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DRYING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Application filed October 19, 1907. Serial No. 398,201.

Be it known that I, JOHN C. TALIArERRo,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements ih Drying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for drying cans and similar articles, after they have been finished and tested, and before they are stored or shipped.

The machine consists essentially of a frame of angle-irons, or other sufiiciently stifi and strong bars, on which are supported a series of tracks, one above the other. These tracks are open at the ends, and are substantially parallel and horizontal. At the ends of the tracks, and alternately arranged at the ends of the machine are the curved springs, which maintain the cans, as

they pass over the ends of the tracks in their passage through the machine in frictional These rollers are arranged alternately at front and rear below the ends of the alternate tracks, and are rotated, the front rollers in one dircction and therear rollers in the reverse, to drive the entire series of cans forward through the drier, with a gentle pressure and a steady movement. The tracks and springs may bearranged adjustably for cans or other articles of different sizes.-

Covering material, preferably non-conducting, is secured to the frame to form a box inclosing the aforesaid parts and the cans. Through the box is forced a warm or hot draft.

. My invention is shown in the drawingherewith 1n whlch the reference numerals and letters of the description indicate the corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical section between the two tracks. Fig. 2 is an end elevation with a portion of the end plate broken away, and,

one series of springs and guards removed. Fig. 3' is an enlarged, vertical, longitudinal section of. the portion of the front of the drier, taken on a line between the rails of a track. Fig. 4 is an unenlarged section of a portion of the rear of the machine corresponding to Fig. 3to show the arrangement ofthe rear ends of the rails with reference to the brackets. v In the figures 1 1 and 2 2' indicate respectively the vertical and horizontal angle-v irons or bars, forming the frame of the machine, on which are carried the tracks, op

erating rollers and friction springs. Two sets of tracks and rollers are here shown in one machine so that two series of cans may be moving through the machine simultaneously. More than two series of tracks and rollers may be arranged in one machine,.

thus increasing the capacity.

A indicates the front outer brackets bolted to the frame-bars by legs 4. A indicate the rear outer brackets, which are only partially seen beyond the rollers at the right of Fig. -1. Brackets A and A are the same in form and supported on legs 4, but arranged at different levels. In these brackets are journaled the shafts '5 5 carrying the friction rollers 6 6. Bolted to the outer brackets are the cross-bars 8 8 carrying. the front and rear inner brackets B B, having curved flanges a 0 to fit around the rollers. The 1nner brackets are secured to the cross-bars by bolts 10 fitting slots 11, sothat these brackets may be adju ited, toward, or from, the

outer brackets to accommodate between them cans of different lengths. On the outer brackets are secured the angle-irons a a forming alternately the outer rails of the tracks and on the inner brackets the corresponding rails b b. The rails are all similar with their vertical flanges arranged outwardly to retain the cans in position, but they are arranged with the alternate ends vertically adjustable. As shown, the rails a and b have their front ends fixed to the brackets A and B by bolts 13-, but their rear ends slightly vertically adjustable on the rear brackets A and B by means of bolts 15' and slots 16'; while the alternate sets of rails a and b have their front ends vertically adjustable on the front brackets A B by means of bolts 15 and slots 16, whlle their rear ends are fixed to the rear brackets by bolts 13. See Figs. 3 and 4. As shown, theends of the rails adjacent to the tops of the rollers are fixed; the ends of the rails below the-bott0ms of the rollers are vertically adjustable. The special form of angle-iron tracks, here shown is economical by means of thumb-screws 22 fitting slots 23,

to be centered on the tracks, whether the latter be made narrower or wider by the shifting of the inner rails.

0n the spring-bars 27 bolted to the outer brackets are secured the flat friction springs 0, outwardly curved and having their lower tips resting adjacent to the ends of the tracks, or pairs of rails. The springs are braced and held in operative position by stiffer metallic guards D. The springs and guards are secured to the spring-bars 27 by bolts 28, fitting slots 29, so that they may be vertically adjustable with reference to the lower rails. The lower tips of the guards should be arranged to rest on the rails, as shown. The springs and the guards may be adjusted at different distances from the rollers to accommodate cans of different diameters, by means of blocks 31, which may be arranged between the upper ends of the springs and the spring-bars, or outside the upper ends of the guards as here shown. The arrangement and function of these springs is an important feature of my invention, that is to hold the cans against the roll ers with a yielding butsutficient pressure, so

that the rollers will exert suflicient friction on the cans to drive the whole series forward through the machine: Therefore I do not limit myself to these springs or to springs, as other yielding means might be substituted to hold the cans against the rollers.

A closed box to retain the hot blast is formed by securingsheets of material 36 (preferably non-conducting material) to the frame. The hot blast is introduced in any suitable manner, preferably into the bottom of the box as at 38;

The cans may be delivered to the drier'by any suitable carrier indicated at E. They are delivered through openingslO in the metal sheathing to an inclined chute 41, down which they roll to the first roller, shown at the upper right hand corner Fig. 1. This chute is-formed of laterally adjustable, angle-iron rails, like the tracks and is also provided with a vertically and laterally adjustable top-plate 20. This inclined chute may be outside of the box. The dried cans are delivered out of the drier at the lower rear end, and may there be received by any suitable carrier, indicated by F. The rollers at each end all rotate in the same direction, but the two sets of rollers rotate in reverse directions, whereby the cans are forced forward as they pass from the end of one track to the beginning of the next, as will be easily understood. See the arrows in Fig. 3. The rollers may be rotated by any suitable means for instance, as shown, by a belt 44 and pulley45 secured on the upper rear shaft, and by chain 46 and sprockets 47 on the rear shafts. 48 is a similar chain and 49 are the sprockets on the front shafts. Motion is communicated from the rear rollers to the front rollers, by a chain 51 connecting a sup- ,plementary sprocket 52 on the rear lower practically no more power to run them through from the bottom to the top.

While my machine is particularly designed for drying tin cans, yet it may be modified in form and arrangement of parts and used for drying a variety of cylindrical or round articles, made of metal or other material.

Having thus described my I claim is 1. In a drying machine, the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a series of tracks on the frame arranged one above the other, friction rollers journaled at the invention, what end of each track, to engage with the arti cles to be dried as they pass over the end of the tracks, said rollers being arranged at opposite ends of the alternate tracks, means to maintain the articles as they pass from one track to the next in frictional engagement with the rollers, and means to rotate the roll ers to move the articles through the machine.

2. In a machine for drying cylindrical articles the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a series of substantially parallel tracks arranged thereon one above the other, friction rollers journaled immediately below one end of each track to engage with the articles as they are deliwred from said track, said rollers being arranged alternatry at the front and rear of the machine below the alternate ends of the track, resilient elements to maintain the articles in frictional engagement with the rollers as the articles descend from one track to the track next below, and means to rotate the rollers to move the articles, along the lower tracks.

3. In a can drying machine, the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a' series of tracks supported on the frame, said tracks being arranged parallel and in a vertical series, a friction roller ournaled at one end of each track to engage with the cans as they pass from the track, said rollers being arranged below opposite ends of the alternate tracks and being spaced from the tracks immediately below to permit the cans to pass under the rollers to said lower tracks, and springs arranged beyond the ends of the tracks and adapted to maintain the cans passing from the upper to the lower tracks in frictional engagement with the rollers said springs being secured on the frame above the upper tracks and having their lower tips extending adjacent to the lower tracks.

4. In a can drying machine, the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a series of tracks supported on the frame, said tracks being arranged parallel and in a vertical series, a friction roller journaled at one end of each track to engage with the cans as they pass from the track, said rollers being arranged below opposite ends of the alternate tracks and being spaced from the tracks immediately below to permit the cans topass under the rollers to said lower tracks,-springs arranged beyond the ends of-the tracks and adapted to maintain the cans passing from the upper to the lower tracks in frictional engagement with the rollers, said springs being secured on the frame above the upper tracks and having their lower tips extending adjacent to the lower tracks, means to adjust said springs verticall and longitudinally and means to rotate t e rollers to move the cans forward through the machine.

5. In a can drying machine, the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a series of tracks supported on the frame, said tracks being arranged parallel and in a vertical series, a friction roller journaled atone end of each track to engage with the cans as they pass from the track, said rollers being arranged below opposite ends of the alternate tracks and being spaced from the tracks immediately below to permit the cans to pass under the rollers to said lower tracks, outwardly curved, flat springs arranged beyond the ends of the tracks and adapted to maintain the cans passing from the upper to the lower tracks in frictional engagement with the rollers said springs being secured on the frame above the upper tracks and having their lower tips extending adjacent to the lower tracks, corresponding curved guards for the springsarranged outwardly of the springs, said sprin s and guards being vertically and longitu inally adjustable, andmeans to rotate therollers to move the cans forward in the machine from the upper tracks to the lower.

6. In a can drying machine the combination with a suitable frame, of vertical parallel brackets secured on the frame in pairs in front and rear, the corresponding brackets of each pair being laterally adjustable with reference tothe other bracket, corresponding rails secured to the brackets forming a vertically arranged series of substantially horizontal tracks, said tracks being substantially of equal length and having open ends, so that the cans can roll over the ends,

"two series of friction rollers arranged one series at each end, the rollers being arranged alternately at front and rear, immediately below the ends of the tracks above, and spaced above the ends of the track below, an upper rear roller arranged above the end of the upper rear track, an inclined chute extending from the front of the machine down to said upper rear roller, flat springs to maintain the cans, as they pass from one track to the next, in frictional engagement with the rollers and means to rotate the two series of rollers reversely and in a direction to move the cans forwardly and rearwardly along the alternate rails so that they will move continuously from the chute to a delivery opening in the lower part of the machine.

7. In a can drying machine the combination with .a'suitable frame, vof vertical parallel brackets secured on the frame in pairs at front and rear, the corresponding brackets of each being laterally adjustable with reference to the other brackets of the pair, corresponding angle-irons secured tothe brackets forming a vertically arranged series of substantially horizontal tracks, said tracks being substantially of equal length and having open ends, so that the cans can roll over the ends, two series of friction rollers arranged one series at each end, the-rollers being arranged alternately at front and rear immediately below the ends of the tracks above, and spaced above the ends of the tracks below, and an upper rear roller arranged above the ends of the upper rear track, an inclined chute extending from the front of the machine down to said upper rear roller, outwardly curved flat springs to maintain the cans as they pass from one track to the next in frictional engagement with the rollers, said springs being slightly vertically adjustable, and means to rotate the two series of rollers reversely and in directions to move the cans forwardly and rearwardly along the alternate rails so that they will move continuously from the chute to a lower delivery opening.

8. In a can drying machine, the combina- 'tion with a suitable frame, of vertical paralopen ends, so that the cans can roll over the ends, longitudinal top-plates supported v above the tracks, said plates being vertically the tracks, two series of friction rollers arranged one series at each end, the rollers beand laterally adjustable with reference to ing arranged alternately at front and rear immediately below the ends of the tracks above and spaced above the ends of the tracks below, springs to maintain the cans, as they pass from one track to the next, in frictional engagement with the rollers, means to rotate the two series of rollers reversely and in directions to move the cans forwardly and rearwardly along the alternate rails so that they will move continuously from the chute to a-lower delivery opening, suitable sheathing secured to the frame to form a closed box, inclosing thecans and the operative mechanism, said box having an upper opening for receiving the cans and a lower opening for the delivery of the dried cans, and means for introducing a hot blast into the box, substantially as described and shown.

9. In a can drying machine, the combination with a suitable frame composed of vertical and horizontal angle-irons securely bolted together, of suitable sheathing secured on the frame to form a substantially closed box, said box having upper openings at its front end to receive the cans and a lower opening at its rear end for the delivery of the cans, pairs of vertically arranged; parallel, outer brackets bolted to the frame at front and rear and adjacent to the ends of the machine, cross bars bolted to said brackets, above and below, at both ends, pairs of inner brackets arranged parallel to the outer brackets at both ends, bolts fitting slots in thefcross-bars to secure the inner brackets in position parallel to the outer brackets and laterally adjustable in reference thereto for cans of different lengths, angle-irons forming track rails secured in pairs to the adjacent faces of the inner and outer brackets, forming two series of vertically arranged tracks, the two upper tracks extending outwardly through the front opening end being thence inclined downwardly to the rear of the machine forming a chute to receive the cans, the other tracks being arranged substantially horizontal and parallel and the lowest track extending outwardly through the lower rear opening, two series of shafts journaled in the outer brackets respectively atv the front and rear of the machine, said shafts. extending outwardly beyond the sheathing at one face of the machine, and being arranged alternately at the front and rear of the machine between the'alternate tracks, friction rollers secured on the shafts and arranged to span the space between each outer and each inner bracket, said rollers extending at front and at rear beyond the ends of the tracks and having the upper points of their peripheries arranged substantially at a level with the upper tracks and the lower portions of their peripheries spaced from'the lower tracks to ranged Lmgitudinally above the tracks, said top-plates being adjustably secured on the upper, horizontal arms of said supports by thumb-screwsfitting slots in the supports to be centered on the tracks, spring cross-bars secured on the outer brackets above the upper tracks, outwardly curved flat springs arranged beyond the rollers at front and rear to maintain the cans in frictional engagement with the rollers, similarly formed metallic guards arranged outwardly of the springs, said springs and guards having upper straight ends vertically slotted and lower tips extending down to and resting on the lower v horizontal flanges, of the rails, bolts fitting the spring and guard-slots to secure the springs and guards on the spring crossbarstobe vertically adjustable with reference to the lower tracks, blocks fitted to said spring bolts to permit longitudinal adjustment of the springs and uards at varying distances fromthe rollers or cans of various diameters, sprockets on the outer ends of said shafts, a chain connecting the front sprockets, a chain connecting the rear sprockets, supplementary sprockets on one of the front shafts and one of the rear shafts, a chain connecting said supplementary sprockets, to communicate the rotation of one series ofshafts and rollers reversely to the other series, means to rotate one shaft from a source of" ower and means to deliver a-hotfblast into the box through an opening in its lower portion, substantially as described and shown. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. TALIAFERRO.

Witnesses:

LoUIs C. KLERLEIN, G. FERDINAND VOGT. 

